Safety electrical-circuit breaker.



W. F. WOGHER, R. L. LEMON & L. H. MORTSOLF. SAFETY ELECTRICAL GILGUIT BRBAKER'.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1908. 941,002. y l Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

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W. F. WOCHLR, R. L. LEMON & L. H. MORTSOLF. SAFETY ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BEEAKEE.

' APPLICATION FILED Nov. ao, 190s. 941,002. E `Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

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W. E. WOCHER, R. L. LEMON & L. H. MORTSOLF.

SAFETY ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 19084 Pateutd Nov. 23. 1909.

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...n QU I A 0 s' Il `when advanced and to act to ground thc the invention having reference more parthe circuits; and, the invention consists also STATES UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. WOCHER, ROBERT L. LEMON, AND LOUIS H. MORTSOLF, 0F INDIANAPOLIS,

INDIANA.

SAFETY ELECTRICAL-CIRCUIT BREAKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

Application led November 3D, 1908. Serial No.' 465,383.

To all whom Iit may concern.' I Be it known that we, WILLIAM F.` VOOHER, ROBERT L. LEMON, and LOUIS H.'MoR'rsoLr, citizens of the United States, residing ati Indianapolis, in the county of Marionand State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Electrical-Circuit Breakers; and we do declare the following to'be a full, clear, and 'exact description of the invention, reference being had ,to the accompanying drawings, and to i the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this speciiication.

This invention relates tothe class of electrical circuit breakers that are designed to prevent the connecting' or making of the electrical circuits by unauthorized persons,

ticularly to devices whereby when the cir-V cuits are broken grounding also will automatically occur; and the invention relates also to improved grounding systems and apparatus in electrical circuit-breakers, especially in relation to sparking circuits of explosive engines, particularly automobile engines.

Objects of the invention are to improve and simplify the construction kof safety electrical circuit-breakers in order to cheapen production and improve the efficiency thereof, and to provide safety electrical circuitbreakers for various systems of electrical wiring.

The present invention consists in a ci-rcuit-breaker or interru ter comprising essentially a lock-bolt a apted to be locked electrical circuit; the invention consisting further in an improved flexible connection between the circuit-breaker casing or housing and `the ground to defeat attempts to restore inthe novel parts,and in the' combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter particularly described and then defined in the accompanying claims.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an automobile frame aving the improvements connected therewith; Fig. 2, a fragmentary front elevation of the spark-coil box and the improved circuit breaker and switchv combined; Fig. 3, a horizontal sectional view at the plane of the line A in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a vertical sectional View at the plane' of the line B in Fig. 2; Fig. 5, an end elevation of the circuit-breaker and switch combined; Fig. (i, a fragmentary upper end view of portions of the improvements showing particularly the switch apparatus; Fig. 7, a sectional view approximately on the line C C in Fig. 5; Fig. 8, a fragmentary side view of a portion of the apparatus; Fig. 9, a fragmentary sectional view approximately on the line B in Fig. 2; Fig. l0, a perspective view of connected operating parts of the circuit breaker and switch; Fig. 11, a fragmentary sectional View approximately at the plane of the line D D in Fig. 3; Fig. 12, a perspective view of the improved lock bolt preferably employed in the improved apparatus; Fig. 13, a fragmentary sectional view approximately atthe plane ofthe line B in Fig. 2; Fig. 14, a fragmentary sectional view of a modified construction as at the plane of the line B in Fig. 2; Fig. l5, a 4transverse section of incased circuit wires; Fig. 16, a fragmentary sectional elevation and diagrams illustrating modifications and a wiring system; and Fig. 17 a fragmentary sectional elevation diagrammatically illustrating a modification in a wiring system and modifications ,in the wiring for the improved circuit-breaker.

Similar reference characters throughout the drawings indicate corresponding elements or features of construction referred to herein.

The invention is illustrated in connection with an automobile having an explosive engine in order that the arrangement and functions of the apparatus may be clearly understood, but the. invention isnot limited to sparking circuits and may be Otherwise arranged, the preferred construction and arrangement being lirst described. p

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates an automobile frame which for the-purpose of the invention serves as the ground connection, 1 indicating the ground or equivalent ofthe frame 1 for practical purposes; 2 indicaties the dash-board of the automo-- bile; 3, a symbol indicating any suitable explosive engine, and 4 the spark-plug thereof connected by a wire 5 with a spark-coil .as i usual; 6, a make and break device or. timer connected by a wire 7 with the engine, there being a circuit wire 8 leading `from the timer or make and break device to the spark coil as usual; 9 a sparking battery connected by a circuit wire 10 with the frame 1 or the ground; and 11 a magneto connected by a circuit-wire 12 with the frame or ground. The spark coil as usual is inclosed in a spark coil box 13 that is mounted on the dashboard 2 and having an aperture 14 in its front. The spark-coil as will be understood comprises a core 15, primary winding 16 and secondary winding or induction-coilA 17, a frame member 18 on which is a binding post 19, a vibrator 20 and a contact device 21 for the vibrator. The bottom of the spark-coil box 13 has a binding post 22 mounted thereon. The afore-mentioned features will be readily understood without further description.

The apparatus comprising parts of the invention includes a casing or housing 23 formed of suitable metal and having a back 24 and a laterally extending flange 25 having apertures 26 therein for securing the casing to the front of the spark-coil box 13 by suitable devices 27 that will prevent the removal of the casing by ordinary means, there being preferably a sheet of insulating material 28 between the back of the casing and the front of the spark-coil box, the insulation being necessary if the spark-Oil box is metallic, but unnecessary if it be wooden.

The casing 23 has a boss 29 on the lower end thereof i' which is an opening 30 through which wires may extend. A 'sheet of insulatino material 31 is placed against the inner side of the back 24 and the back has an aperture 32 therein, as have also the sheets o insulating material. The casing includes also a front 33 which is composed of insulating material such as hard rubber, the front being securely fastened in the forward portion of the casing 23 opposite to the back 24 by suitable means, such as screws 34 extending from the back into said front, so as to be lnaccessible from the exterior. The front has an aperture 35 therein and on the exterior of the front is a hollow circular guide 36 having a flange 37 into which screws 38 are inserted through the front 33 from the inner side thereof, so as to be inaccessible from the exterior. A frame plate 39 composed of insulating material such as vulcanized fiber is mounted on the front 33 by means of hollow posts 40 and securing screws 41 extending through the posts. Two contact devices 42 and 43 are mounted on and extend through the plate 39 and are in the form of binding screws having their heads m the side that is toward the front 33 and therefore serve as circuit terminals, being.

insulation 45 thereon and extending through the boss 29 to the battery 9, the other contact device being connected by a wire 46 having insulation 47 thereon and extending also through the boss 29 to the magneto 11.

A ilexible casing 48 is provided which is preferably composed of one or more close coils of wire extending around and covering the insulation 45 and 47 of the circuit wires and extending into the boss 29 in which it is secured by solder 49, the casing 48 extending in an exposed situation near the dash-board 2 down to and along the frame l to which it is grounded by supportingclips as 50 and 50, the casing 48 serving admirably as an armor for the circuit-wires which in many causes lead through or in almost inaccessible places. It will be clear that under ordinary circumstances it would be practically impossible to destroy the ground connection of the casing 48 and therefore the casing or housing 23 is constantly grounded by means of the casing 48, 51 indicating a ground connection equivalent to the clips 50 or 50.

A shaft 52 is mounted rotatively in the guide 36 and is movable longitudinally therein, the inner end of the shaft having a switch blade 53 secured thereto which has a spring-plate 54 attached thereto that is split longitudinally from one end toward its opposite end, so as to form two contactplates 55 and 56 that st'and oif slightly at their free ends from the end of the switch blade 53, to be moved into engagement with the contact devices 42 and 43 to make connection either with the battery 9 or the magneto 1l. A part of the switch-blade 53 forms a projection 57 which serves to make electrical: connection between the switchblade or its shaft and a locking device, to be further described. Theshaft 52 extends outward beyond the guide 36 and is provided with an operating handle-bar 58 which serves to indicate whether the switch-blade has connection with the battery 9 or the magneto 11, or Whether it is disconnected from both types of electrical sources. A coil-spring 59 1s arranged in the aperture 35 about the shaft and 1s seated against the inner end of the guide 36 and also against the switch-blade 53 to normally push the shaft 52 inward, so as to hold the' contact plates 55 and 56 toward the contact devices forming the terminals of the battery circuits, the projection 57 serving the functions of a stop shoulder or locking member and a bearing member, as will hereinafter appear. A pair of stops l60 and 61 are mounted also on the plate 39 near the contact devices 42 and 43 to normally hold the contact plates of the switch-blade in engagement with the contact devices, and the serve also to hold the switch blade in mi -position when disconnected from the contact devices, as may be seen vin Fig. 7. Another frame plate 62 vices; and it is clear thatl in some cases one 'proj v"tion is made between the is suitably attacliedvto the frame-plate 39 and is composed of suitable insulating niaterial, aiid if desired .may be formed iiitefrrally with the plate 39, and it Supports a iinding post 63 tliatis opposite the openings 1.4 and 32. A circuit-wire 611 is connected to either one of the screws 3S at the inner sideof the. front 3S' and is connected also to the binding post. 63, and a circuit* wire 65 is connected to the. binding post 63 and also to the binding post 19 which connected by a. Wire 16 with the primary winding 16 of the spark-coil, so'tliat, as will beseen, a circuit may be established between either the battery 9 or the magneto 11 through the .s\v'-itcli-blade :33, the'shaft 52, the guide 36, and the circuit-Wires 61 and 65 with the spark-coil. The wire 61 preferably extends through the trame-plate 62.

It will be clear, of course, that the circuit may be broken by means otl the switch-blade when moved to vmidpositionand, therefore from contact with botliof the contact devices l2 and' 43but itis free to be moved into contact .with either one otl the contact debattery only may -be desired, and while in such case the switch blade 53 might be held in permanent contact `with the single battery it is preferable that it be disconnected therefrom, but that it be free to be moved into contact or out of contact therewith.

In order to positively prevent the making of the circuit after havin .been broken and also to' provide an adttional safeguard against any unauthorized person making a temporar circuit, provisionis made for automatical y locking the circuit breaking de-- vices and grounding the circuit when vthe circuit is intentionally broken, and as al simple means for suchpurposes la suitable lock-case 66 is mounted on theinner side of the front' 33 and j iret'erably in connection with the. frame-plate 62, and it has a lockbolt `67 mounted therein preferably slidingly as illustrated, the end of the. lock-bolt being preferably 4beveled as ordinarily` made, and arranged so as to be in proximity to the projection 57 which has a rounded face presented toward the lock-bolt, a .spring 68 being mounted in the lockfcase and normally ecting the lock-bolt toward the shaft 52 An electrical conneclock-case 66 vand the back 24 of the casing or hollllllg by a` suitable wiring, such as a coilespring 69 and abinding-,screw 7() or ay wire 69"` and a bindingscrew 70. The outer end of the lockbol1t-67 preferably has an insulatingplatel attached thereto that normally rests against ythe projection 57 when the shaft 52 is pushed inward so that .the switch-blade may be in operative position; or in some and the projectionrT.

'cases the insulating-plate 71 may be omitted i and the lock-boltbe arranged, so as tolle near but not in Contact with the 'projection y5T, asin Fig. 16, the result 'in either case being that electrical connection or directcontact -is prevented between the lock-bolt and the switch-blade or the projection 57 forn'ied practically as a part thereof. The lock-bolt preferably has a spring tongue 7 2 mounted thereon that is adapted to insure contact of the lock-bolt with the projection 57 at the proper time, being designed to compensate for" possible lost motion of the several arts in their mountings. A housing 73 orms a part of the lock-case 66, heing attached thereto, and extends thrmigh the front a barrel 74 being mounted rotative'ly in tlie'liousing and normally locked to prevent rotation by means'ot" sectional pins '75 pressed by springs 76, all of well known constructionl` the pins being manipu `lated by a peculiar key 77 inserted in the barrel and engaging the pins, as will he understood, the barrel .carrying an arm 7h for retracting` the lock-bolt 67. lIt will be understood that each proprietor'y may have a special key that ordinarily could not be duplicated, so that there lwould be little like` lihood of others being able to operate the lock to ret -lact the lock-bolt. When it is desired to break the circuit and lock the circuit breaking devices aiid also to ground the circuit, theshaft 52 is drawn out until the projection 57 passes to the outer side of the lock-bolt and permits' the lock-bolt to be projected beyond the extremity ot' the projection 57, so that the lock bolt and also the tongue T2 will engage the projection 5T and lmake direct connection therewith and also prevent the shaft 52 from beingr again moved inward, and also prevent connection of the switch-blade with-either one ot' the batteries. the Contact plates 55 and 56 being moved suiiiciently far away from theplane of the contact devices 42 and :l2-3 to prevent Contact therewith even though the shat't 52 be turned rotatively in its guide.

ln `some cases the lock-bolt 67 may be prevented from normally contacting with the projection 57 by applying' an insulator 79 to the projection 57 instead of providing the lock-bolt with. an insulator. and in such cases the, lock-bolt may be projected (iire'etly into contact. withhthe insulator 75l` and it .is preferable to provide the shaft 5; `with a spring-tongue 8() adapted to engage the -locltfbol't-ti-i insure contact betp'feen the lockif A. 1v bolt and the projection ai when the `hatt o2 is drawn outward to ground the circuit as shown in Fig. 14.

It'willbe understood that the grounding spark-coil box 13, and a circuit-wire 83 is connected to the binding post 82, the wire 83 being connected to a wire 8l that is connected with the battery 9, the wireI S3 being connected also to a wire 85 that connected to the magneto 1l. A circuit-wire S6 is connected to the lock-case Gti and preferably extends through the trame-plate (t2 and is connected to the binding-post (i3, making connection ot` the primary winding with the lock-case. with either one ofthe screw 3S and is connected also with the back 2l b v means ot' a binding-screw SS. so that the casing 23 and A circuit-wire S7 is connectedi BEST AVAILABLE coe ,grounding connection when the connector therefore the casing 4b' is in connection with the guide 3G and therefore with the switchblade and also the projection 5T. When the lock-bolt (5T is not in contact with the projection 57 it will be understood therefore that the. sparkingcircuit will be e tablished and that when the shaft 52 is drawn outward and locked in engagement with the lock-bolt the circuit will be grounded and sparking prevented.

In practical operation, the shaft is unlocked and may7 be turned to switch into connection either with the battery J or the magneto 1l and may be drawn out longitudi nally to prevent connection with either battery or magneto' and will be engaged and sel curely locked bj.' the loch-bolt whereby the circuit will be grounded. When the lockbolt 6i' and the projection 5T are arranged relatively as shown in Fig. lo, ot' course the outward movement otl the shaft 5:2 will cause the projection 5T to engage the beveled side ofthe lock-bolt and retract the lock-bolt while the projection 3T passes by tothe outer side of the lock-holt or into engagement with the tongue T2, after which theloclebolt. will be automatically projected by its` spring. When it is desired to establish the electri 'al circuit it is necessary only to insert the key TT int`i the barrel Tit and slightly turn the key, which will retract the lock-bolt and permit the spring at) to force the shaft in` ward, so as to be disengaged from the lockbolt and in position to beimoved into connection with the battetjwcircuit by means ot' the switch-blade 53 and the contact devices.

lla ving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

i. An electrical circuit-lu'ealier including an electrical currcnt-conducting circuit, a movable electrical conducting connector for forming the normal circuit, and a movable locking device acting directly with thcconncctor to ground the circuit and also to preim restoration otl the normal circuit when gltititliictl.

two separate electrical conducting elements, a grounding connection, a movable conducting connector for the two conducting elements, and a retractable locking device act- An electrical circuit-breaker includingdisconnects the two conducting elements.

4.. An electrical circuit-breaker including two separate electrical conducting elements, a movable conducting connector for connectingr or disconnecting the two conducting elements in or from an electrical circuit, a locking device acting to hold the connector when the connector is moved to disconnect the two conducting elements, and means including the locking device vfor grounding the circuit when the conducting elements are disconnected by the connector.

j A11 electrical circuit-breaker including two separate electrical conducting elements, a conducting connector normally connecting -the two elements and movable to break the circuit, and a movable locking device havingA a circuit-wire operatively connected therewith, the locking device acting to hold the connector when the circuit is broken thereby aml acting also directly with the connector and the circuit wire to form ground connection when holding the connector.

t3. A11 electrical circuit-breaker including a' housing, a contact device mounted in the housing, a circuit-wire connected to thecontact device and extending out through the housing, a conducting connector mounted movably in the housing to bemoved into or out of connection with the Contact device, a

movable conducting locking device mounted in the housing to hold the connector when moved out of connection with the contact device, an electrical conducting element'in the housing .to form electrical circuit through the locking device with the connector, and an insulator automaticall interposed between the connector and tllie locklng device when the connector is moved into connection with the contact device.

7. .An electrical circuit-breaker including a housing, Aa contact device mounted in the housing, a circuit-wire connected to the contact device, a hollow guide mounted on the housing, a circuit-wireconnected with the guide, a shaft mounted in the guide to move longitudinally, a connectoren the inner end of the shaft and movable thereby into or out `tongue thereon to also engage the connector,

and a circuit-wire in operative connection with the lock-bolt.

8. An electrical circuit-breaker including an inclosing metallic housing with an insulating front, an insulating frame plate in the housing, two contact .devices mounted on the frame plate, a hollow guide mounted on the front, a shaft mounted movably in the guide and having a switch-blade and connector combined and also a projection thereon, the switchblade and connector being movable into or out of connection With either one of the contact devices, a lock-bolt mounted in the housing and projectable to engage the projection When the switch-bladey and connector is disconnected from both of the contact devices, separate circuit-wires connected with the contact devices Separately, and a circuit-wire in operative connection with the switch-blade and connector combined.

9. An electrical circuit-breaker including a stationary electrical contact element With a battery-Wire connected thereto, two electrical conducting devices normally held electrically apart and movable into engagement one with the other electrically, one of the two conducting devices being movable into or out of electrical connection with the contact element, the remaining one of the two conducting devices acting to hold thc other one of the two devices when out of electrical connection with the contact element and providedI `with positive locking means, one of the two conducting devices having a sparkcoil primary-wire electrically connected E. BAUER, BERNICE W. Gnoss. 

